The Essential Mom Guide To Help You Find Your Stride
Being the mother of a newborn baby is an incredible feeling. You’re elated, but you’re also terrified. Nobody ever gives you a manual regarding how to be a parent, and any advice people do give seems to be based on experiences of their own children. The problem is that every child is different, and raising every child is an individual and unique experience. We all go through the same steps as we grow from a baby to a child to an adult, but there are some big differences along the way. Rather than fretting about the finer details, here’s an essential mom guide to help you find your stride in terms of the overall journey of mothering a newborn child.
Knowing when they’re ready.
We’ll open with this point because it’s the thing which seems to give new and long-time mothers the most anxiety: how do you know when your child is ready for each new “stage”? You anxiously wait for them to take their first step, utter their first word, and go to the toilet unaided (a few years down the line, of course). Still, these things can’t be forced; children learn in different ways and at different paces. When it comes to baby high chairs, for example, you’ll know when to get one because your baby will be sitting upright without assistance. When it comes to removing dummies from their clutches or stopping to breastfeed them, that’s a judgment call.
Knowing when your little one is ready for each new step in their life is all about watching them grow and letting things happen naturally; don’t worry about your friends and the rate at which their babies might be growing. Every individual is different, and it doesn’t matter how quickly your child achieves their first steps or sits in their first high chair. All that matters is your support as a mother, and that’s something you already give them unconditionally. You’re doing well, whether you realize it or not.
A full wardrobe and nothing to wear.
For some parents, baby clothing is a fashion accessory, and, for others, it’s an absolute nightmare to figure out. It all depends on the climate in which you live, but all you should be worried about, on a practical level, is whether the clothing is supportive. It’s advisable to opt for insulated clothing in colder climates and thin clothing in warmer climates, as your baby’s body might struggle in certain temperatures, otherwise. Don’t worry too much about this; just ensure that the clothing is comfortable, loose, and flexible so that your baby is happy.
Letting your baby talk to you.
Obviously, it might be a while before your child is actually talking with human words, but that doesn’t mean they can’t communicate with you in other ways. As a mother, you need to trust your instincts and not what Google or a friend tells you; you’ll know your baby’s cues better than anyone else. Certain tones, when crying, indicate certain problems, and certain behaviors will be indicative of how your baby is feeling.
Working alongside mothering.
This is something that, again, differs case by case. Some mothers have no choice when it comes to returning to work because they need to pay the bills, but if you have a partner who works then you may be tossing up the options of becoming a stay-at-home mom or returning to the workplace. At the end of the day, only you know what you can handle. Try talking to moms in similar situations and see how they coped with the decision. And remember that you can always change your mind if returning to the workplace doesn’t work out.
